Attempts to reduce tension between East and West

Question 1

What was Detente in the 1970s?

Answer 1

Deliberate steps taken to ease the tension between the Superpowers.

Salt I (1972) → ABM’s split on two sites and limited to 100 missiles. Balances and restrictions were placed in ICBMs.

Helsinki Accords → Made WW2 borders inviolable. Human Rights. Economic cooperation.

Undermined by USSR action in Angola, the Prague Spring and the eventual invasion of Afghanistan.

SALT II → Promised further limits on ICBMs and strategic bombers but was cancelled after the USSR’s invasion of Afghanistan.

Question 2

What was the importance of Reagan and Gorbachev’s attitudes?

Answer 2

Reagan sought to “win” the Cold War. He wished to roll back Communism.

Gorbachev wanted reform and “New Thinking”.

Question 3

What was the consequence of “New Thinking”?

Answer 3

It would bring about an end of costly Cold War spending and open the door for political and social reform in the USSR and across the Warsaw Pact.

→ Perestroika: Reform

→ Glasnost: Openness.

Question 4

What was the importance of the INF Treaty (1987)?

Answer 4

Developed a security link between the Superpowers.

It led to an entire category of nuclear missiles being eliminated by NATO and by the USSR.

It reduced Cold War spending for both Superpowers.